• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.17-17
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• 2003

Enzymes involved in catecholamine synthesis are present in the highest concentration in the adrenal medulla, however they were found also in other, mainly nervous tissues. Increased transcription of genes for catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes is an important mechanism to increase the capacity for epineprine/norepinephrine biosynthesis with stress. Gastrodia elata(Chinese name: Tienma), are very important Chinese herbal medicines used for the medical treatment of headaches, migraine, dizziness, epilepsy, rheumatism, neuralgia, paralysis and other neuralgic and nervous disorders. Immobilize stressed rat markedly increased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) mRNA and dopamine-${\beta}$-hydroxylase (DBH) mRNA transcriptior level more than control group. But treated Gastrodia elata extracts in immobilized stressed rat slightly increased TH mRNA and DBH mRNA transcription level more than normal group. In addition, we are obtained identical results in PC12 cell line. Decrease of transcription level of TH mRNA and DBH mRNA is indicating that Gastrodia elata have a anti-stress effects which decrease the transcription level of TH and DBH mRNA on catecholamine biosynthesis pathway.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.269-272
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• 1994

The effect of the root of Coptis japonica (COPT), both dichloromethane soluble $(CH_2Cl_2)$ and insoluble $(H_2O)$ fractions, on catecholamine contents and tyrosine hydorxylase (TH) activity in PC12 cells was investigated. $(CH_2Cl_2){\;}and{\;}H_2O$ fractions showed 21 and 53% inhibitions on dopamine content, respectively, at a ocncentraction of 40 .mu.g/ml in medium : the $(H_2O)$ fraction proveided a grateer inhibitory effect. The TH activity was reduced by the treatment of COPT ($(H_2O)$ fraction). These results suggest that COPT has an inhibitory effect on the catecholamine biosynthesis by the reduction of TH activity in PC12 cells.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.37-37
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• 2003

Enzymes involved in catecholamine synthesis are present in the highest concentration in the adrenal medulla, however they were found also in other, mainly nervous tissues. Increased transcription of genes for catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes is an important mechanism to increase the capacity for epineprine/norepinephrine biosynthesis with stress. Gastrodia elata(Chinese name: Tienma), are very important Chinese herbal medicines used for the medical treatment of headaches, migraine, dizziness, epilepsy, rheumatism, neuralgia, paralysis and other neuralgic and nervous disorders. Immobilize stressed rat markedly increased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) mRNA and dopamine-$\beta$-hydroxylase (DBH) mRNA transcription level more than control group. But treated Gastrodia elata extracts in immobilized stressed rat slightly increased TH mRNA and DBH mRNA transcription level more than normal group. In addition, we are obtained identical results in PC12 cell line. Decrease of transcription level of TH mRNA and DBH mRNA is indicating that Gastrodia elata have a anti-stress effects which decrease the transcription level of TH and DBH mRNA on catecholamine biosynthesis pathway.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.147.1-147.1
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• 2002

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.04a
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• pp.146.2-147
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• 2002

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.757-765
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• 2011

Many studies have suggested that the behavioral and reinforcing effects of morphine are induced by hyperactivation of the mesolimbic dopaminergic system, which results in increases in locomotor activity, c-Fos expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). In order to investigate the effect of wild ginseng (WG) on treating morphine addiction, we examined the behavioral sensitization of locomotor activity and c-Fos and TH expression in the rat brain using immunohistochemistry. Intraperitioneal injection of WG (100 and 200 mg/kg), 30 min before administration of a daily injection of morphine (40 mg/kg, s.c.), significantly inhibited morphine-induced increases in c-Fos expression in NAc and TH expression in VTA as well as in locomotor activity, as compared with Panax ginseng. It was demonstrated that the inhibitory effect of WG on the behavioral sensitization after repeated exposure to morphine was closely associated with the reduction of dopamine biosynthesis and postsynaptic neuronal activity. It suggests that WG extract may be effective for inhibiting the behavioral effects of morphine by possibly modulating the central dopaminergic system and that WG might be a useful resource to develop an agent for preventing and treating morphine addiction.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.323-327
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• 2005

RT-PCR is an useful method to investigate the expression of target gene as detection tools. Although RT-PCR is the powerful detection method for tissues, it was difficult to amplify the target gene product using the single cell. To clarify the expression level of the genes related to Parkinson's disease (PD), I performed the laser dissection of single cell from Substantia nigra. I examined the mRNA expression level in the dopaminergic neuron isolated from the PD patients by the single cell RT-PCR method. It is known that tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), DOPA decarboxylase (DDC) are involved in biosynthesis of the catecholamine such as dopamine. Little has been known about the gene expression features of these enzymes in single dopaminergic neuron. I could detect the specific gene products in single cell level. The different expression was observed in PD-related gene products from the single neuron of PD patients. Interestingly, TH gene expression was significantly decreased with comparing the ratio of decrease in other PD-related genes. Hence, I represented data that indicate the RT-PCR method described in this report is an effective method in detecting a specific single-cell mRNA level related with diseases.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.645-650
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• 2006

Tributyltin chloride (TBTC) at concentrations of $0.5-1.0\;{\mu}M$ inhibits dopamine biosynthesis in PC12 cells. In this study, the effects of TBTC on L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA)-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells were investigated. TBTC at concentrations up to $1.0\;{\mu}M$ neither affected cell viability, nor induced apoptosis after 24 or 48 h in PC12 cells. However, TBTC at concentrations higher than $2.0\;{\mu}M$ caused cytotoxicity through an apoptotic process. In addition, exposure of PC12 cells to non-cytotoxic (0.5 and $1.0\;{\mu}M$) or cytotoxic $(2.0\;{\mu}M)$ concentrations of TBTC in combination with L-DOPA (20, 50 and $100\;{\mu}M$) resulted in a significant increase in cell loss and the percentage of apoptotic cells after 24 or 48 h compared with TBTC or L-DOPA alone. The enhancing effects of TBTC on L-DOPA-induced cytotoxicity were concentration- and treatment time-dependent. These data demonstrate that TBTC enhances L-DOPA-induced cytotoxicity in PC 12 cells.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 2002

Dopamine(DA), norepinephrine(NE), and epinephrine(E) belong to a class of neurotransmitters known as catecholamine (CA) which are synthesized and secreted by mammalian brain and adrenal medulla. CA regulate several behavior patterns connected with breeding, and regulate GnRH-gonadotropin hormone axis' vitality between hypothalamus-pituitary gland linking with reproduction freeze. The present study examined effects of sex steroid hormone on the transcriptional activities of CA biosynthesis enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase(TH), dopamine $\beta$ -hydroxylase(DBH), and phenylethaolamine-N-methyl transferase(PNMT). Mature female rats were ovariectomized(OVX) and implanted with 17 $\beta$-estradiol(E$_2$: 500 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) or sesame oil. Forty-eight hours after implantation all the animals were sacrificed. Total RNAs were extracted immediately and were applied to semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). The expression level of TH was appeared by hypothalamus > SNc> adrenal medulla orders in OVX＋Oil group, and by SNc > hypothalamus) adrenal medulla orders in OVX+E$_2$ group. Treatment with E$_2$ significantly increased TH expression in SNc and adrenal medulla but in hypothalamus, the reduced TH expression was observed. The expression level of DBH was appeared by adrenal medulla > SNc > hypothalamus orders in OVX＋Oil group and in OVX＋E$_2$ group. Administration of E$_2$ significantly reduced DBH expression in SNc, and increased in adrenal medulla. Two cDNA products, large(PNMT1) and small(PMNTs) species of 110bp difference, were amplified in SNc and hypothalamus, but only PNMTs was observed in adenal medulla. The PNMTs expression level was in the order of adrenal medulla > hypothalamus > SNc in both OVX＋Oil and OVX＋E$_2$ group. The PNMTs expression in SNc and adrenal medulla was significantly increased byE$_2$. The present report demonstrated that estrogen effects on transcriptional activities for CA biosynthethic enzymes were tissue specific in adrenal medulla as well as different region of brain. These results suggest that it might be crucial relationship between the type of estrogen receptor and CA enzyme gene expression.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.30 no.9
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• pp.1059-1064
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• 2001

Objective : 6R-Tetrahydrobiopterin(BH4) is a cofactor for the aromatic amino acid hydroxylases which is essential for the biosynthesis of catecholamines and serotonin. It also acts as a cofactor for nitric oxide synthase, and stimulates the release of some neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine and glutamate. Recently, it has been reported that BH4 could induce cellular proliferation and enhance neuronal survival. This study was performed to investigate the antioxidative effect of BH4 on the various oxidative insults in mouse cerebral cortical cell cultures. Methods : Iron ion(FeCl2), zinc ion(ZnCl2), sodium nitroprusside(SNP) and buthionine sulfoximine(BSO, a glutathione depletor) were used as oxidants. Cell death was assessed by measurement of lactate dehydrogenase efflux to bathing media at the end of exposure. Result : All 4 oxidants induced neuronal cell death associated with cell body swelling, which was markedly inhibited by trolox($100{\mu}M$), a vitamin E analog. BH4($10-100{\mu}M$) markedly inhibited the neuronal cell death induced by all 4 oxidants($20{\mu}M\;Cu^{2+}$, $20{\mu}M\;Zn^{2+}$, $1{\mu}M$ SNP or 1mM BSO). However, BH4 failed to inhibit the neuronal cell death induced by 24hr exposure to $20{\mu}M$ NMDA. Conculsion : These results suggest that BH4 has antioxidative action independently of any actions of enzyme cofactor.